The Detroit Lions have multiple options for their offensive line in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, particularly at the 17th overall pick. Coach Dan Campbell is considering moving Penei Sewell to the left tackle position depending on available talent.
Key points
Detroit Lions have options for offensive line in 2026 NFL Draft
Lions hold the 17th overall pick in the draft
Penei Sewell may be moved to left tackle
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah comments on Lions' strategy
Draft date is April 23, 2026
Detroit LionsPenei Sewell
When it comes to finding the final piece for their offensive line, the Detroit Lions should have options if they want to address the position in the first round of this week’s 2026 NFL Draft – both in who they take at No. 17 overall on Thursday, April 23, and what position that player plays.
“The nice thing about [it],” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in a conference call last week. “You’ve got Penei Sewell. You just take the best player, whoever it is, and then he can go wherever. He’s fine.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he hopes to move Sewell, a three-time first-team All-Pro at right tackle, to the left side this fall. But those plans could change depending on who’s available for the Lions in Round 1.
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 11: Monroe Freeling #57 of the Georgia Bulldogs blocks Chris Murray #3 of the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 11: Monroe Freeling #57 of the Georgia Bulldogs blocks Chris Murray #3 of the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Miami right tackle Frances Mauigoa and Utah right tackle Spencer Fano are potential top-10 picks and likely to be gone by 17.
After Mauigoa and Fano, there’s a wide range of opinion on how to rank the next tier of linemen, with as many as six others projected to go in the first round.
Q&A
What are the Detroit Lions' options at No. 17 in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Lions can choose from several offensive line prospects to strengthen their roster at the 17th overall pick.
Who is Penei Sewell and what position might he play in 2026?
Penei Sewell is a three-time first-team All-Pro right tackle, and he may be moved to left tackle depending on the Lions' draft choices.
When is the 2026 NFL Draft scheduled to take place?
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026.
What did NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah say about the Lions' draft strategy?
Daniel Jeremiah noted that the Lions should take the best available player for their offensive line, regardless of position.
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Penn State’s Vega Ioane is the best pure interior lineman in the class, while the rest of the group consists of a mix of left and right tackles, including some who could move to guard.
Jeremiah said Georgia’s Monroe Freeling is the most likely of that group to stay at left tackle. Freeling started 13 games at left tackle last season for the Bulldogs after playing sparingly his first two years.
“The tape got better and better throughout the year [on him], kept getting better, kept improving,” Jeremiah said. “There is some rough stretches there in the middle, so you got to get comfortable with that. I just think when you look at his profile when you’re 6-7 and change, 315 pounds and move like he does, especially on combo blocks when you watch him come off one block and be able to just quickly redirect, peel off and pick off linebackers, like he’s got all of it in his body. I think it’s going to require some patience.”
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Along with Freeling, Clemson’s Blake Miller, Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Utah’s Caleb Lomu and Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor are first-round prospects who could come off board near the Lions’ first-round pick.
Miller is a pure right tackle who started 54 games in his Clemson career. The Utes thought enough of Lomu at left tackle to move Fano to the right side. Proctor started three seasons at left tackle for Alabama and is one of the youngest prospects in the draft. And Iheanchor is a toolsy prospect who started playing football late in high school and played primarily right tackle at Arizona State.
Jeremiah projects Miller and Iheanachor to play right tackle in the NFL, Lomu to stay on the left side after he gets “a little bit stronger,” and Proctor, he said, could play either tackle position.
“Obviously he played left tackle, so I think he’s got quick feet for a guy as massive as he is,” Jeremiah said. “I like him a little more at right, but I think you could play him at left and he’s played there, he’d be comfortable there.”
While the tackle position falls off notably after the top two groups – Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan (a Birmingham Detroit Country Day product) is a potential Day 2 pick – there is a solid group of interior linemen who could go in the middle rounds, including Michigan State center Matt Gulbin.
“At the end of the day, it’s going to be offensive line coaches are going to have a lot of work to do this year in terms of projecting,” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “Not only from a scheme standpoint but a talent standpoint to say can they get it done at tackle or they’re going to have to be a guard because there’s a lot of mixed opinion on a lot of these offensive linemen in this draft.”
Recent Lions draft picks at OL: 2025 – Tate Ratledge (Round 2); Miles Frazier (Round 5). 2024 – Gio Manu (Round 4); Christian Mahogany (Round 6). 2023 – Colby Sorsdal (Round 5). 2022-None. 2021 – Penei Sewell (Round 1).
Dave Birkett’s top 3 OT prospects: 1. Frances Mauigoa, Miami; 2. Spencer Fano, Utah; 3. Blake Miller, Clemson. Dave Birkett’s top 3 IOL prospects: 1. Vega Ioane, Penn State; 2. Gennings Dunker, Iowa; 3. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech.
Other players with Michigan ties: OT: Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern (Birmingham Detroit Country Day); Brett Weaver, Grand Valley State. IOL: Matt Gulbin, Michigan State**;** Greg Crippen, Michigan; Giovanni El-Hadi, Michigan.
Day 3 sleeper who could interest Lions: OT: Isaiah World, Oregon. IOL: Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M.
